Tetris (Mirrorsoft)

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Tetris
Developer(s)Mirrorsoft, Rowan Software
Publisher(s)Mirrorsoft
Platform(s)Various
ReleaseFirst released for IBM PC on 27th Jan 1988.

Mirrorsoft's version was the very first commercial release of Tetris in the world. It was unveiled at the Jan 1988 Which Computer? Show and hit the shelves in the UK on the 27th of that month. During the following three weeks, it was also released for the following home computer platforms: Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Amstrad PCW, BBC Micro/Acorn Electron, MSX, Atari ST, and Amiga.

Along with the version developed by Mirrorsoft's American sister company, Spectrum Holobyte, it was originally released under bogus licensing. However, contracts were later made between Andromeda Software (the sublicensing party), and Elorg, which secured the legality of the products.

IBM PC Version

Main article: Tetris (PC, Spectrum Holobyte)


This was a repackaged version of the Spectrum Holobyte version.

Commodore 64 Version

C64 Mirrorsoft 01.png C64 Mirrorsoft 04.png C64 Mirrorsoft 06.png

Memorable for its stirring and epic 25 minute long soundtrack composed by Wally Beben, and also for the title artwork by Stephen Thomson, featuring two naked figures in monochrome. Option to choose either music or FX, but not both.

Rotation System

Pieces that fit in a 3x3 grid are aligned to the top-left corner for every rotation, and do not kick.

Gameplay

Pieces don't have a set color, and are instead assigned a random color of blue, gray, green, brown, red, or purple.

Before starting, the player can choose which level from 0-9 to start from. Fall speed is increased with level.

The player earns points for placing pieces, clearing lines, and hard drop distance. Contrary to newer games, more points are not awarded for multi line clears like doubles, triples, or tetrises.

Scoring
Level Line clear Piece
0 8 5
1 13 5
2 20 6
3 26 6
4 32 7
5 38 7
6 43 8
7 50 8
8 55 9
9 62 9

ZX Spectrum Version

ZX Spec Mirrorsoft 02.png ZX Spec Mirrorsoft 52.png ZX Spec Mirrorsoft 59.png

The 48k version has title music only, and sound effects during gameplay. Lines are cleared sequentially, and play a tone with pitch determined by the height.

The 128k version had different title music, and also a tune that played during gameplay. Options allowed for either tune or effects, but not both at the same time. Lines cleared all at once, and only one sound effect was used.

Amstrad CPC Version

CPC Mirrorsoft 01.png CPC Mirrorsoft 05.png CPC Mirrorsoft 07.png

Amstrad PCW Version

PCW Mirrorsoft 01.png PCW Mirrorsoft 06.png PCW Mirrorsoft 03.png

BBC Micro/Acorn Electron Version

BBC Mirrorsoft 03.png BBC Mirrorsoft 06.png BBC Mirrorsoft 07.png

Features a dire warning at the start mentioning how the game has been banned in its native Russia due to it being dangerously addictive. No music is present, but a tone plays when pieces lock in place, and the tone's pitch is determined by the height when the piece locks.

MSX Version

Mirrorsoft MSX 0000 fixed.png Mirrorsoft MSX 0002.png Mirrorsoft MSX 0004.png

Atari ST Version

Atari Mirrorsoft 03.png Atari Mirrorsoft 02.png Atari Mirrorsoft 04.png

Almost identical to the Amiga version, with only a slight amendment to the copyright notices to give credit to "AcademySoft - Elorg".

Amiga Version

Amiga Mirrorsoft 01.png Amiga Mirrorsoft 06.png Amiga Mirrorsoft 08.png

Featured same title screen music and in-game music as Spectrum 128 version, composed by David Whittaker. Background "fuzzy yellow static" animation could be frozen to enhance visibility. The lines counter maxed out at 99. Six digits were provided for counting score, which would presumably max out at 999999.

See also

External links